Sifter mechanism



Sept 12, 1933- w. G. KlRcHHoFF 1,926,903

y sIFTER MECHANISM Original Filed June 27. 1927 v This application i's adivisional application; of

Patented sept. 12, 1933 V.1,926,903- j [SIF'rER MECHAMSM William GiiKirchhoiLCincinnati, Ohio, assigner` Y to The J. H. Day Company, Gincinnati, Ohio,. v

l Va corporation of Ohio.

Original application June"27,"1927, SerialfNo.

201,660, now Patent No. 1,829,707.' Divided'lfV .andthis application Aprl 16, 1929. Serial No.Y--J.s-

355,569 'A s claims. f

co-pending application Serial No. 201,660 'filed llune 27, 1927, which now bears Patent Number 1,829,707. The invention relates to" a sifting or .dusting apparatus such as may be usedwith bread making orother types of machines, and hasY for its object the provision of a sifter mechanism which is adapted forl accurate adjustment' in order to regulate the quantity of siftable substancedischargec'll thereby; f Y

Another object is to provide a sifter wherein the discharge' areafof the screen. or mesh may be adjusted 'tof suitable dimensions within the range of the Vscreen employed.v

means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying-fdrawmg in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a structure embodying a device of the invention,parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the present embodiment of the invention the sifter or duster comprises a body member 8.

'having side walls 9 which converge downwardly toward a bottom plate 10, which has a longitudinal discharge slot 11. The operative length of discharge slot 11 is controlled by a plurality of slides 12 arranged with parallel abutting sidesA in side by side relation in a recess 13 in the top face of plate 10. The slides 12 have suitable nger pieces 120 for facilitating withdrawal thereof. A duster screen 14 is secured intermediate the bottom plate 10 and the bottom of the `duster body. A suitable agitator shaft l5 Textends longitudinally through the duster bodyfandY is journaled in a suitable bearing 16 at one end and preferably in an end plate 17 at the opposite end of said body. This shaft is adapted for oscillation by means of any suitable eccentric mecha-v nism, for example, the one described in co-pending application Serial No. 201,660, for'imparting a rocking oscillatory-movement to a'suitable agitator 18 which may carry a plurality of rodsf19.

yThe agitator may be rigidly secured to shaft 15 by any suitable means such as set screws 20.

The duster unit or sifter. of the invention, together with the eccentric oscillating mechanism E and a suitable driving means such asmotor M may be conveniently mounted upon a pair of spaced support members 21, the body of the sifter being provided with perforate base ange 22 resting upon tubular spacer 23, and clamped by bolts 24 extending through the'flange, spacer, vand into the supports 21. Set screws 25 extend- These andfother'lobjects-areattaindfby the expose a given portion of the width of thescreen so thaty the quantity of siftable substance dis-v ing upwardly throughthe-s'uppo'rts 21 and abut'-` ting `bottom lplate fat spaCedinterValS,'serve to` retain the bottomplate; screen andthe slides. 121 in abutment, thereby precluding undesired escape '1 of siftable substance and serving alsoV to elimina te -vibration.'

The -'operation of thefdevice' is as 'followsi.

' When it is' desired to provide' a 'dusting mechanism i for 'a givennfiachin a complete unit' such a's i's shown in Fig. 1' may be conveniently mounted in 65 position by-secur'ing thesup'ports 2 1- thereto.` The extent of movementof theosc'illating'shaft y 15 is adapted toy be accuratelyco'ntrolled by-adjust'- ment'of knobV A ofthe-oscillating mechanism E.

'Itzwill bel understood thatthe slides 112 .may 70 be provided for the entirey length" vof the 'discharge opening Y 11 and Y that' they "may be drawn vout'- wardly to` expose` an entire transverse strip of the screen at any given place. With a relatively long discharge opening, the sifter of the present lembodiment may be variously arranged by manipulating the slides 12 to provide for a number of aligned spaced discharge openings or they may all vbe withdrawn to provide one long opening. From thisit will be appreciated that the sifter may be readily adapted to eectively cooperate with many types of adjustable machines.

vIt will also be understood that the slides 12, or`

any of them, may be withdrawn tobut partly charged during the passage of a moving article to be dusted may be regulated as desired.

What is claimed is: 1. In a sifter structure for uniform distribution' 9 of siftable material the combinationy of a hopper' having a continuous discharge slot yextending along the body thereof, Yand means comprising narrow adjustable transversely movable slides' disposed adjacent to opposite ends of the dis- 95"' y charge slot in close side by side relation for closingend portions only of the slot whereby to provide for predetermined successive reduction in the, operative length of the continuous dischargeslot without interference with the continuity of `une 10 slot intermediate its ends.

2. In a sitter structure the combination of a hopper having a continuous elongated 'discharge slot therein' arranged for uniform distribution of siftable material, an oscillatory agitator for eiecting discharge of the contents of the hopper through the slot, means for actuating the agi-- tator, and groups of individual slide members at each end only of the slot, adapted for relative sliding movement and adapted to be movedy transsoflb versely of the slot Whereby to reduce the operative length and operative width of said discharge slot at its ends only, Without interference with the continuity of the slot intermediate its ends.

3. A sifter structure comprising? the combina@ tion of a hopper body; a bottom platefor the hopper having an elongated discharge slot. and transverse Ways therein located adjacent to oppof site ends of said discharge slot, a screen member interposed between the hopper and plate, slides in the ways for reducingand closing portions of the slot adjacent tothe opposite ends of the slot Without interferencewith*the4 continuity of the slot intermediate its ends.

4. In a duster unit the combination of mhopgier having a discharge slot and a series of contacting slides disposed at opposite eda o! kthe dischargeVY slot whereby selected portions of the slot may be closed to vary the length of the slot and tatherebv preclude discharge of the contents of the hopper through said portionsof Ythe the, remaining intermediate being, continuous and un obstructed for permitting uniform;A distribution of. sifted material therethrough.

5.. A, sitter structure comprising the cembinaY tion of a slotted hopper body, a screen extending f across; the barium or sus body andinos, a bottom' plateI for the hopperbnving.. an ekmgated continuous. discharge slot therein',A means extendingl f through the platet Yscreen and intp the vhoppen: for mountingl the parte insuperposed position and transverse parallel sidedslides arranged ink lateral. abutment in a plane with. the bottom oilv the screen for. reduction of. the. over-all.' length .oi the slot clesingseleeted: portions; laterally and longitudinally oi the screw-ai; the ends 6. In a.,v cluster device for uniiormA distribution.

of siftable substance the combination of a hopper having a continuous discharge slot extending along the hopper, and a group of contacting relatively movable shutters disposed at opposite ends ofthe slot transversely o1' the slot, the: shutters ofV each group being in side by side contacting relation to provide for reduction of the operativel length of the discharge slot from both ends of the said slot without interference with the continuity of; the slot. between the groups of shutters.

7. In a sifter structure the combination of a hopper having' a continuous elongated discharge yslot thereinv for' uniform distribution of siftable material, an agitator for effecting discharge of the contents of the hopper through the slot,

, means, for actuating the agitator, and a group of slide members adapted to be moved individually transversely of the vslot whereby to reduce the eperrativelength and operative Width of said discharge slot at one of its ends, Without interferencel with the continuity of. Athe slot intermediate the group of slide members andA the opposite.- end of the discharge slot,

& In a duster unit'the combination of a hop.-

per having anelongated discharge slot, and means disposed adjacent to opposite ends ofthe dist-- charge-slot and operable over said end portions to openv and` close said ends of -the slot to vary the length of the slot: and thereby preclude dis-- charge of the contents: of the hopper through said, closed portions of the slot, the, remaining intermediate portionbeinst continuous andun'obstructed for permitting uniform distribution. of

sifted material therethrough onto la.` predetermined length of'surface. to be dusted.A 

